60 H. P. STEENSBY. 
group has at one time lived to the west of Bering Strait and has 
arrived here from the coasts of Siberia.” I must take it for granted 
that THALBITZER means the north coast of Siberia. But, as will be 
seen from the following, I cannot follow him as regards this point. 
I do not doubt that it will ultimately be proved that the Eskimo 
originally came to the regions around Bering Strait from the north- 
east, along the north coast of Alaska. 
Even here, however, I can refer to my preliminary paper of 
1905 on this subject, where I tried to show that all anthropo- 
geographical circumstances favour the belief that the Arctic Archi- 
pelago of North America is the original home of the Eskimo culture. 
I pointed out Coronation Bay, in particular, as a district especially 
adapted to develop such a peculiar economic culture as that of the 
Eskimo. In the years which have since passed no weighty evidence 
has been produced to question the main points in my paper from 
1905, viz., that the Eskimo culture is of Arctic origin and arose as 
an adaptation to the natural conditions in the Archipelago. Even 
the remarks set forth by A. HAMBERG have not great interest in 
this connection, as this author, in his paper, has not entered on the 
problem which I had treated, viz., the adaptability of the Eskimo 
culture to the geographical surroundings. 
Views of Investigations Before Us. 
If one wishes to arrange the Eskimo in a cultural order of 
succession, and amongst the hunting peoples distinguish between 
the lower and higher hunters, one must necessarily place the Eskimo 
in the latter category. 
No doubt there are many authors who rank the Eskimo amongst 
the lower hunting peoples, but these authors have not realized how 
rich and highly differentiated is the Eskimo inventory of expedients 
for the support of life. From the point of view of social and higher 
culture the Eskimo have only had opportunity for poor development. 
Owing to the difficult conditions of nature all their efforts are 
expended on procuring food, house, and clothes — three things which 
are all equally necessary in an Arctic climate. 
In all these respects they must suffice for themselves. They 
must procure the material for their implements, houses, and clothes; 
each must for himself manufacture these things, and the maker must 
himself direct the development of his use of the hunting implements, 
